Story 17

        This voyage was Bob’s first of any length since his accident in the Caribbean (see The Hip (H)op Caribbean Tour). I met up with Bob and Barrie at the Thomas Drummond a Wetherspoons pub in Fleetwood on the Thursday evening. A few Beers later we made our way back to Trinculo in a taxi. After supper of Bowland Cheese and Crackers we retired.
Kev has been kind to me. The fact is I was mostly a passenger (apart from hogging the helm) due to my lack of mobility. I will add an occasional comment during the editing.

Fleetwood to Whitehaven.
          Dave joined us at six thirty the following morning. We left the Marina, I managed to hog the helm, and motored out in to the channel. It had been our intention to pick up a river mooring and have Breakfast, Barrie however said it looked flat calm and he decided that we could have breakfast on the move. These young Skippers have to learn the hard way. We sailed up the Fleetwood channel and entered the Lune Deep. The swell was throwing us around as it almost always does in the Lune Deep and breakfast was put on hold. The wind was from the North West, so to continue sailing we held a westerly course along the Lune Deep, leaving the offshore Barrow Wind farm to Starboard. On reaching the Morecambe Bay Cardinal, we had gone far enough in the wrong direction and tacked north, sailing for three hours in good sailing conditions with fairly gentle seas. However, the wind direction forced us in towards the Cumbrian coast and as we approached the Sellafield Nuclear plant the engine was started and we motored north towards St Bees Head. Once round St Bees we turned in towards Whitehaven. Calling the Harbour Master on the V.H.F. we were asked to stop on the port side of the Lock, which was open, to receive berthing instructions. This we did and were soon berthed on to a pontoon in what was the old commercial dock, and now part of the Marina.
         The Good Beer Guide was consulted and the only pub featured was a Wetherspoons House called “The Bransty Arch” which is a former Bus Station. After food on board we hit the town and our first port of call was a Robinson House called the Candlestick, where a pint of “Cumbrian Way” was sampled. The beer was excellent, but the background music was a bit loud for us, obviously aimed at a younger cliental. We moved on to the Bransty Arch and tried the Marstons Pedigree which was ‘not right’, the Jennings was fine and after several we headed back to the boat. We called for a last one in the John Paul Jones, but we shouldn’t have bothered.

Whitehaven to Kirkcudbright.
The following morning we called at the fuel berth and filled up with diesel for the first time since we arrived in Fleetwood at the start of June (138.4 Litres at 47p per Litre). I hogged the helm again. We paid for the fuel and our Harbour dues of £14.00 at the same time. After calling the lock gate on the V.H.F. were soon clear of the Harbour. The wind was from the west at about ten knots and we soon had both sails out and were moving north across the Solway Firth in ideal sailing conditions. The wind was sufficient to keep us moving at around five knots with calm seas. Entering the river Dee, just after low water we slowed to nothing as the wind dropped. Ross Island Lighthouse was just behind us and Barrie tried some fishing with no success. The engine was started and we entered the marked channel with its twists and turns. Three other yachts followed us up river. We were two thirds of the way up to Kirkcudbright when we ran aground as we had drifted out of the channel. Sorry, me on the helm. The rising tide had us afloat again after a few minutes and we continued up to the town pontoon. It was first visit to Kirkcudbright (pronounced Kirkubri) for all but Bob and the Good Beer Guide was again consulted There was only one entry “The Masonic Arms”. This was quickly

not aware that we had a holding tank up to then. A slight leak on the hot water system was also located. The Battery wiring proved to be a problem as the wiring proved difficult to trace, a job for the winter lay-up. The Anchor winch had also been playing up, the end plate was removed, the motor armature was cleaned and the brushes re-set. This then worked perfectly which led to a great deal of banter between Barrie and myself, I trained in Electrical work and Barrie’s in Mechanical. That evening Dave talked us in to having a meal out and we dined at the Gordon House Hotel, the food was excellent, but alas no real ale. We called for a pint in the Selkirk Arms Hotel which had real ale on and ended the evening back at the Masonic Arms drinking in the smoking area in the back garden with the local policeman.

Kirkcudbright to Peel (Isle of Man)
It was just before high water the following morning when we let go our lines from the pontoon and left Kirkcudbright. With me hogging the helm.The sails were soon out and the engine stopped as we glided down the river Dee back towards the estuary. The wind died and the engine was again started as we approached Ross Island, but by the time we were a mile out in to the Solway Firth the wind had returned and we were again sailing. The sea conditions were good as we left the Scottish coast and we were soon doing eight knots in only fifteen knots of wind. As we approached the Point of Ayre (the northern point on the Isle of Man) the sea state became decidedly rougher and we slowed down. The wind increased and we reefed down our sails and sailed the last sixteen miles down the west coast of the Isle of Man to Peel in rough seas. On entering the outer harbour at low water we had a look at the visitors buoys. These looked extremely uncomfortable, so we tied up to the wall, only to be told that the fishing fleet were due in, so we rafted up to another yacht, then listened to Channel twelve on the V.H.F., to see when we could enter the inner harbour.
We had not visited Peel for six years and a water retention sill and Swing Bridge had been installed since our last visit. A walk ashore to have a look at it and have a pint in the Peveril Arms on the dockside, passed the time. I stayed onboard as I did not fancy the climb ashore over a number of boats.
The pub is in the Good Beer Guide and is named after a Sir Walter Scott novel called “Peveril of the Peak”. The Peak refers to Derbyshire’s Peak District but Lady Peveril is referred to as “Queen in the Isle of Man”. We returned to Trinculo and had a meal onboard while waiting for the inner harbour sill and swing bridge to open at nine in the evening. By nine fifteen we were safely tied to the wall and ten minutes later had another yacht rafted up to us.
It was then back to the Peveril Arms for the rest of the evening, the Okels was on form. The following morning we took a walk around Peel, called at a Chandlers and heard the latest plans for pontoons in the inner harbour before returning to Trinculo for lunch. In the afternoon two of us went shopping while the other two went on the guided tour of the Manx Kipper factory. The evening was spent on a pub crawl around Peel. The first was the White House (Good Beer Guide) where Dave beat us at darts (again) and then on to the Creek which was warm but the Beer was fine and then back to the Peveril Arms to finish off.

Peel to Port St Mary
The wind was still from the north west and the sea state a bit rough when we left Peel the following morning. Me on the helm again. We turned south and headed for the Calf of Man. A long discussion followed as to whether or not we should risk going through the sound between the Calf and the mainland. The decision was not to, as the wind would be directly behind us and if anything went wrong we would be totally committed. We made our way round the Calf and once passed the Stacks Lighthouse we could see some very confused seas ahead of us. These were tidal rips caused by the tide. The current is separated into two streams by the Isle of Man and where these two streams separate or come back together the sea becomes rough. The engine was started as a precaution and we were thrown about a bit with occasional rapid acceleration, then coming to a virtual stop. As Dave put it “people are paying a pound a minute to experience this on Blackpool Pleasure Beach”. Forty-five minutes later we were sailing in light winds and gentle seas as were now in the lee of the island and clear of the tidal rips. We turned in to Port St Mary at low water and tied up to the wall. The Sun appeared from behind a cloud and the temperature rose sending us to sleep. A lazy afternoon followed, the only thing of interest was a fishing boat which we had watched unload at Peel the previous day arrived to unload today’s catch of Crabs. We later saw the small factory where the processing takes place. After food and a shower we headed for the Isle of Man Yacht Club, The Okels was stale, so after Dave had his obligatory game of Darts we moved on to the Albert (Good Beer Guide). The Palette was soon restored with some first rate ale.

Douglas to Fleetwood
         It was twenty past two the following morning when we called Douglas Harbour to inform then that we wanted to leave on the next bridge lift, at a quarter to three. Our lines were slipped and we were at the bridge with seven minutes to spare. The bridge was raised on time and after receiving permission to leave, we made our way out to sea. The wind was from the north west at about twelve knots with a calm sea. The sails were up in no time and we settled into a watch system. I went back to bed. We made excellent progress and by first light the Morecombe Bay Gas Rigs were in sight, the visibility was perfect and Black Combe near Barrow could clearly be seen as could the Isle of Man behind us. The wind had picked up and we had reefed down the sails. The sea had become roughish and was throwing us about, but we maintained a good speed of around seven knots. It was around seven in the morning when the wind eased and the sea calmed. Time for Bacon and Sausage Butties. The Barrow offshore wind farm came in to view and our speed dropped slightly as the wind eased still further. We sailed in to the Lune Deep, which for once was calm, and then turned down the Fleetwood Channel. The engine was started and the sails lowered as we made our way into Fleetwood. The Dock gates were open and after receiving permission we made our way in to the Marina and tied up. Our Voyage over, we made our way home.

                                                                                                                                          Kevan

As I said at the start I was mostly a passenger but I managed to hog the helm when the autopilot was not in use. Shows what you can do with a good crew!

Port St Mary to Douglas
The overcast sky and fairly poor visibility left us feeling a little depressed as we moved away from Port St Mary the next morning, me on the helm, with the wind from the North West and light as we were in the lee of the island. It was slow going at first with the remains of the tide against us as we sailed up the coast to Douglas. The tide turned and just over two hours later we called Douglas Harbour to arrange to enter the inner harbour at the 10.45am bridge lift. We only just made it and the moment we were through, the bridge was lowered. We were told by call sign “Inner Harbour One” that no pontoons were available so we tried to go alongside the wall, not quite enough space, so on instructions we ended up rafted up on the outside of an old lifeboat and a motor cruiser.
A walk round Douglas and a short shopping trip followed before the inevitable pint in The British, The Saddle and The Bridge on the Quay, all of which are former entrants in the Good Beer Guide, and from the afternoons sampling, The Saddle still should be. It was then back to Trinculo for food and a bit of shut eye. That evening we headed for The Rovers Return which has a shrine to Blackburn Rovers. The hand pumps are made from Fireman’s hose nozzles, which I have to say are the pubs only redeeming feature. The place is scruffy and obviously aimed at a younger clientele than us, so we moved on to The Prospect Hotel (Good Beer Guide) which was holding a quiz night. I enjoy a pub quiz’s but when you arrive too late to take part and the answers are being read out, with loud music being played in between each sections answers, on a dodgy portable sound system, it is a bit off putting. The Beer was good and we found a relatively quiet corner to enjoy it. The pub is across the road from the House of Keys (the Isle of Man parliament) and the Law Courts and has a great deal of the islands legal history on display. We called at the Douglas Yacht Club for a last one.
The next day we had decided on a change and had breakfast in the market and caught the bus to Ramsay. Viewing the scenery from the top deck of a double decker gives an excellent view of the Islands rugged coastline with green valleys and farmland. The journey took just under an hour arriving at the bus station in Ramsay. A short walk later and we were at the harbour. A walk over the swing bridge and a look at the pool which is being proposed as the new Marina followed. We then walked past some large Victorian / Georgian property of complete contrast, as some were maintained to a very high standard and others were practically derelict. It was time for lunch so we headed for the pub, we found the Trafalgar Hotel (Good Beer Guide) and had a pint, but alas no food so we moved on to the Ellen Vannin (Good Beer Guide) which is the Manx name for the Island, Again no food. The pub across the road The Royal George Hotel had food on and the licensee claimed to have the best beer on the island, we of course tried both and have to say that both food and the Okells were good. A walk through the shopping arcade and a visit to the derelict pier was next on the list. The pier has plaques which commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when sheltering from a storm. The Queen stayed on board the Royal Yacht while Albert took a walk ashore. Another plaque commemorates a visit by George V. We then walked back to a bus stop and caught the bus back to Douglas. That evening Dave wanted to watch Preston North End on the Television in a pub, so we split up, with the rest of us going to “Jak’s” for a meal. Some of us had eaten at Jak’s a few weeks earlier and the food was again excellent and reasonably priced. The noise from a disco on the floor above was a bit off putting, but the Restaurant was quiet. We asked our waitress why ?. So said it was something about Friday evening as during the day and other evenings it does get busy. We moved back towards the boat and stopped for a last one in the Yacht Club, where Dave caught up with us. I decided to go to bed, so at least the helmsman was reasonably sober for leaving the harbour. It was to be an early start the next day.